FTC, FDIC Warn of Phishing Attacks

The following article was passed on to us at MiraMesa.com by our friend Lisa Kyser, the AVP Branch Manager from North Island Credit Union. Thanks for the heads up Lisa! We hope this information keeps you from becoming a victim of identity theft.

FTC, FDIC warn of phishing attacks

Oct. 14, 2008 – The Federal Trade Commission last week warned that phishers are taking advantage of the recent upheavals in the financial services industry to launch attacks on consumers by fraudulently posing as the financial institution that recently acquired their institution or mortgage company.

The warning noted that the e-mails may ask consumers to update, validate or confirm their account or other personal information following the acquisition of their financial institution.

The FTC suggests that consumers avoid replying to e-mail or pop-up messages asking for personal or financial information. Additionally, the agency cautions that some scammers are sending prerecorded telephone messages asking consumers for a return call to update personal information. In these cases, the agency suggests consumers call the number on their financial account statements.

In addition to the FTC warning, the FDIC also told consumers last week of fraudulent e-mails appearing to be from the agency with the subject line, “Funds wired into your account are stolen.”  The e-mail asks recipients to open and review an attached file. That file, the agency says, is actually an executable file that contains malicious code or software.

The FDIC said that recipients of these fraudulent e-mails should not respond or open the attached file. The agency also noted reports that say antivirus software programs have been detecting and removing the malicious attachment before the e-mail is delivered. However, if the attachment is opened, the FDIC recommends updating antivirus software patches and performing a complete scan of the computer and network.